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The Concept of Matter in Jaina Philosophy
THE SAMKHYA VIEW OF THE PROPERTIES
OF MATTER Dr. B. N. Seal explains theat “the properties of a thing are only the energies that are manifested in the particular collocations of the three Guñas-Mass, Energy and Essence; and a tri-Tanmātric or a penta-Tanmātric atom, i. e. an atom composed of three or five kinds of Tanmātras may differ from another of the same class in respect of the number of constituent Tanmātras of a particular kind, as also of their collocation or grouping, and therefore, in mass as well as in generic and specific characters."1
According to the Sāṁkhya-Pātañjala--the properties (energies) of the substances originate from the grouping or the quanta of the Tanmātras, or the gunas themselves, e. g. “various kinds of fruit acids and juices, all originating from one and the same Bhūta (water) with different accretions of earthy matters (bhüvikāraḥ)”.2
So it is maintained that the four Bhūtas or Mahābhūtas 1. Yogyatávacchinnā dharmiņaḥ śaktireva dharmaḥ, Yoga
sūtra, Vyāsabhāsya 3, vide The Positive Sciences of the
Ancient Hindus, p. 44. 2. The Positive Sciences of the Ancient Hindus, p. 45;
Yo...dharmeşu anupāti sāmānyaviseşātmā so anvayi dharmin, Yogabhāsya, III. 14; Syādetat-kathaí ekarūpānām gunānām anekarūpā pravșttiḥ ityata āha parināmataḥ salilavat / yathā hi Väridavimutam udakam ekarasam api tattadbhūvikārān āsādya nārikela-tāla tati-vilva-ciravilva-tindukāmalaka-kapitthaphalarasatayāpariņāmāt madhurāmlalavaṇatiktakaṣāyakatutayā vikalpate, evamekaikagunasamudbhavāt pradbānam guņam āśritya apradhānagunāḥ parināmabhedān pravarttayanti / tadidamuktam pratipratiguņāśrayavisesāt ekaikagunāśrayeņa yo viseşastasmát ityarthaḥ, Tattvakaumudi, Vācaspati on Kārikā, 16. Sce :P. S. A. H., pp. 45-6.
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